Liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus



AL E. PRACK Oct. 3l, 1950 LIQUD MIXING Dls'iENs'IN APPARATUS v FiledApri; 2o, "1949 k INvENToRJ ALBERT E PRAcK A TTORNE Y aten'ted Oct. 31,1950 LIQUID MIXING AND DISPENSING APPARATUSA Albert E. Prack, St. Louis,Mo., assigner to Prack, Incorporated, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application April 2l), 1949, Serial No. 88,641 2 claims. (o1.299-84.)

My invention relates to liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus, and hasparticular reference to a plumbing fixture' or faucet attachment forintroducing soap or other chemical in liquid form into the stream ofwater flowing through the fixture. l f

The extensive use of liquid detergents in the home and in commercialestablishments has increased the need for a practical mixing anddispensing device that operates automatically to effect the mostsatisfactory and economical proportioning of the liquids. The provisionof an improvedv device of this character is the chief object of thepresent invention. o

In dispensing devices of this kind it is desirable to provide means forcontrolling the introduction of the liquid soap, so Vthat either purewater or soap solution may be selectively obtained. An important objectof my invention is achieved in a` novel method of and means forcontrolling the introduction of soap into the water stream. Whereas informer mixing and dispensing apparatus for a similar purpose theadmission of soap into the stream of water is controlled by a valve inthe soap supply line, inmy improved device the introduction of the soapis controlled at the discharge or outlet end of the fixture. A valve inthe soap line may be and preferably is provided, but such a valve needbe used only for regulating the rate of flow of the soap solution, asfor obtaining the most satisfactory proportioning .of the liquids, andnot for completely closing oif the soap supply. In the present Vdevicethe valve in the soap line may be maintained in a predeterminedcondition of adjustment, with the valve handle removed to preventtampering, since the valve in the soap supply line is not relied uponfor changing the character of the discharge flow from pure water to soapwater solution.

Another object of the invention is achieved in provisions of a faucetattachment .of the character described, embodying means for effectingthe discharge of the combined liquids in the form o f a spray in orderto obtain thorough intermixing thereof and the production of rich suds,or alternatively, for dischargingl pure water in a single, concentratedstream.

With these and other objects'and advantages in view, the inventionresides in the novel method employed for controlling the induction ofsoap or other liquid into the mixing chamber of a dis-l pensing device,and in the combination and arrangement of parts for carrying out thisand other purposes as set forth in the following description andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view showing an embodiment of my invention,parts of the apparatus appearing in section, and

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the mixing chamber and discharge head.

Referring now by numerals of reference tothe drawings, I0 designatesgenerally a common type of faucet, representative of any water outletfixture. The device of my invention comprises a pipe member I Iexternally threaded at its upper end for connection as by a nipple I2 tothe spout I 3 of the outlet fixture. The pipe II affords an inductionpassage for any liquid to be introduced into and combined with the Waterreceived from the faucet IU. Since the present invention is especiallyuseful as a mixing and dispensing device for liquid soap,` that materialwill be referred to herein. The liquid soap is adapted to be drawn froma vented supply receptacle I4 through Va so-called inductor tube I5 theupper end of which is in lateral communication with the passage in pipeII at a point spaced a short distance below lits upper end. The inductortube is preferably provided with a ow regulating valve I6 which may beconveniently located near the junction of the tube with pipe II. ValveI6 is intended chiefly as a means for accurately regulating the flowrate of the liquid soap so that the most efficient and economical use ofthe soap may be had. The setting of valve I6 for optimum conditions willdepend upon a numberof different factors, as, for example, the specificgravity and viscosity of the particular soap, and the pressure of thewater in the supply system. After valve I6 has been adjusted to asetting found to rgive the best results with the particular soap and thewater pressure involved, the valve may be locked' or otherwisemaintained in its adjusted position, since other means to be hereinafterexplained are employed for controlling the admission of the soap intothe water stream.

The lower end of inductor tube I5 is provided with an automatic checkvalve II for preventing liquid in the tube from flowing back into thesoap 3 stance the check valve l1 serves to maintain the inductor tubeI'5 lled with liquid soap, in readiness for instant delivery into thejet passage in pipe I I, and further prevents water from flowing throughthe inductor tube and into the soap supply receptacle .14.,

Upward movement of the liquid soap through tube I5 is induced by themovement of the Water flowing through pipe I I under certain conditionsto be subsequently explained. Pipe I I is provided at its upper end witha jet or nozzle member I8 j that terminates downwardly at approximatelythe level of the inductor tube opening I9 and is adapted to direct a jetor stream of Water through the open lower end of the pipe. Pipe I Iprojects downwardly into the hollow interior of a bellshaped member 2lthat -constitutes a mixing chamber and spray discharge head for theliquids, the lower end of pipe I I being spaced a short distance'abovethe bottom wall of the said chamber. Spaced concentrically within` pipeII by means of a spacer sleeve 23 is a tube 20, the upper end 0f whichis spaced below the nozzle I8 and the lower end terminates Vwithin thepipe II and is provided with openings 22 as shown. The inner tube 29 isnot an indispensable member of the organization and such member may beeliminated.

The member 2l has a bottom Wall or plate 24 characterized by amultiplicity of small perforations or discharge orifices 25, and arelatively large, centrally located discharge opening 26 in axialalignment with the jet nozzle I8. A gate or bailie plate 21 on the innersurface of the orice plate 25 is pivoted` thereto by a pintle 28, formovement to and from a covering position over the central dischargeopening 2E in the orifice plate. The baiiie 21 is desirably providedwith a number of small orifice perforations, and is adapted to beshifted by'means of an extension 29 thereon', constituting a controllever.

The jet nozzle I8 is designed to discharge water in a concentratedstream of lesser diameter or sectional area than that of the passagewayformedby pipe Il and tube 2D. The water stream is discharged outwardlythrough the central opening 26 in the orifice plate 25 when the baiiie2'I is disposed in an open position. Under the conditions noted, theopening I9 at the upper end of the inductor tube is at atmosphericpressure and hence the soap will not be drawn into the stream of water.Under such conditions, then, with the baffle plate in open position,pure water in a concentrated stream may be obtained from the apparatusby operating the handle oi the water faucet in the normal manner.

Now when it is desired to obtain soap solution from the apparatus theuser manipulates lever 29 to shift the baille 2'I to a position over thecentral opening 26. discharge flow, causing the liquids to pass throughthe perforations in the plates and discharge in the form of a spray. Byreason of the somewhat restricted outlet openings the liquid accumulatesin the member 2l and occupies the air space in pipes Il and 29 thatpreviously surrounded the jet. Under these conditions the liquid soap isThe baille tends to obstruct direct i' 4 caused to be drawn into movingstream of Water. During passage through the induction pipe, the sprayhead chamber and the spray oriiices the liquids become thoroughlyintermixed. The spray action is especially conducive to the formationVof rich, dense'suds.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the characterof the discharge now, both in a physical and a chemical sense, is underthe control of the lever 29 at the discharge end of the apparatus.

I have described my invention with reference to a practical, operabledevice of presently preferred form. It is known that certain changes maybe made in the structure herein described without departing from thespirit and full intendment of the invention.

' I claim:

l. Liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the character describedcomprising a hollow body member having a relatively large opening and aplurality of small openingsin an end wall thereof, a pipe projectinginto the opposite end of said body in alignment with the said largeopening, said pipe having lateral openings at its discharge end, a tubefor liquid soap connected to said pipe, a nozzle in said pipe forprojecting water therethrough in a stream of lesser diameter than thesmallest diameter ofthe passage through said pipe, and an adjustablegate at said large opening, adapted to restrict discharge flowtherethrough to an extent to cause the discharging liquid to fdl saidpipe, whereby to eiiect induction of soap from said tube.

` 2. A plumbing iixture for mixing and dispensing liquid soap,comprising a pipe adapted at one end for attachment to a faucet, ahollow body member at the discharge end of said pipe, said member havingan apertured wall providing spray orices and an enlarged opening inalignment with said pipe, means for inducing liquid soap into said pipeincluding a soap tube connected to said pipe, and a nozzle in said pipeadapted normally to project Water outwardly through the passage formedby said pipe and said enlarged opening in an attenuated stream of lesserdiameter than the smallest diameter of said passage, whereby to avoidinduction of soap into:y

operable to interrupt said flow through said enlarged opening, wherebyto cause liquid soap to flow from said tube into the pipe, and to causethe, combined liquids to discharge through said sprayorifices.

ALBERT E. PRACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kotches et al Feb. 22, 1949

